In its 2021 budget on Wednesday, the Ontario government said it’s requiring pension plan administrators to calculate and report their plan’s claim exposure to the pension benefits guarantee fund, to support the protection of benefits into the future. A review of the fund, discussed in the province’s 2020 budget, found there was a need for […]
Canada’s multi-employer pension plans are facing a wide range of challenges, from funding requirements to future growth, according to a recent webinar hosted by the Association of Canadian Pension Management. The group benefits and pensions division of Newfoundland & Labrador Municipal Employee Benefits Inc. is currently seeking a renewal of its solvency-funding exemption from the […]
Pension governance policies have been common for many years, at least since the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities published its initial guidelines on pension plan governance in 2004. There are compelling reasons for plan administrators to have in place a formal pension governance structure and written governance policy. A governance policy, which sets out […]
The Alberta Teachers’ Association is taking legal action against the recent ministerial order enacted on several of the province’s pension plans, including the Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund. In documents submitted to court on March 10, the association argues the terms and conditions imposed in Finance Minister Travis Toews’ order are inconsistent with the province’s Teachers’ […]
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his government will make a decision this spring on whether to pursue pulling Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan. But Kenney says even if the United Conservative government proceeds, Albertans will have the final say through a referendum on whether to create an Alberta Pension Plan. Treasury Department officials […]
Newfoundland and Labrador residents can now unlock benefits held in locked-in retirement savings arrangements for reasons of financial hardship or non-residency in Canada. The changes are in effect as of March 1 and only affect locked-in retirement savings arrangements such as locked-in retirement accounts, life income funds and locked-in retirement income funds, according to a press […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is calling on the federal government to provide Canadians with access to more-secure retirement income. In its submission to the 2021 federal budget, the CLHIA recommended that Canadians in and approaching retirement have access to flexible annuity options within registered pensions, registered retirement savings plans, registered retirement income […]
The Alberta Teachers’ Association says it’s taking legal action against a ministerial order enacted on several pension plans in the province in late December. In a press release, the association said its provincial executive council voted unanimously this week to file a lawsuit, acting on legal advice that identified an avenue for a challenge to […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is establishing a technical advisory committee to provide insights on the province’s existing regulatory processes for employer-based pension plans. The committee’s 10 to 14 members will examine current regulatory processes in order to improve pension plan administration through cost-efficient and innovative practices. They’ll also discuss approaches to help ensure Ontario’s pension plan […]
The Pension Investment Association of Canada is calling on the federal government to reform pension solvency rules while supporting legislation to introduce solvency reserve accounts and variable-payment life annuities. In response to a federal consultation paper, the PIAC said while it supports temporary relief measures amid the current economic climate, it cautioned against an approval […]